Safest Lakes to Swim Near Willmar
Minnesota
14 lakes within driving distance of Willmar, Minnesota pass our swim-safety screen — grade A/B water, low algae, and public access. 0 have direct bacteria (E. coli) testing on record. Filtered for grade A or B water quality, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.
A moderate cluster of 14 graded lakes lies within reach of Willmar, averaging a grade of B. George Lake (A) is the cleanest of the set.
The swimming-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the swimming use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Swim Safety | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Lake | Kandiyohi | A | Low algae | 8.9 mi | 15 ft | 34 ft |
| 2 | Elkhorn Lake | Kandiyohi | A | Low algae | 7.8 mi | 14 ft | 41 ft |
| 3 | Henderson Lake | Kandiyohi | A | Low algae | 7.9 mi | 13.5 ft | 57 ft |
| 4 | Green Lake | Kandiyohi | A | Low algae | 11.7 mi | 14.1 ft | 110 ft |
| 5 | Long Lake | Kandiyohi | A | Low algae | 16.6 mi | 10.5 ft | 46 ft |
| 6 | Minnie-Belle Lake | Meeker | A | Low algae | 25.9 mi | 14.4 ft | 49 ft |
| 7 | Florida Lake | Kandiyohi | B | Low algae | 9.1 mi | 12.3 ft | 40 ft |
| 8 | Crow River Mill Pond | Kandiyohi | B | Limited data | 13.1 mi | 10.2 ft | 14 ft |
| 9 | Manuella Lake | Meeker | B | Limited data | 29.4 mi | 10 ft | 51 ft |
| 10 | Linka Lake | Pope | B | Low algae | 30 mi | 10.2 ft | 50 ft |
| 11 | Eagle Lake | Kandiyohi | B | Low algae | 5 mi | 6.9 ft | 67 ft |
| 12 | Crow R Mill Pond | Kandiyohi | B | Low algae | 13.4 mi | 7 ft | 14 ft |
| 13 | Calhoun Lake | Kandiyohi | B | Low algae | 14.6 mi | 6.9 ft | 13 ft |
| 14 | Scandinavian Lake | Pope | B | Low algae | 27.1 mi | 8 ft | 49 ft |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.